Jacksonville, FL., -- With the 2024-2025 academic and athletic year rapidly coming to an end, the Edward Waters University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics honored the successes of its student-athletes and coaches with the annual ROAR Awards Ceremony held Wednesday evening, April 23 inside the Adams-Jenkins Complex.

Hosted by "Da Million Dollar Voice" Octavious Davis, student-athletes from each of Edward Waters 17 varsity intercollegiate sports were honored by their coaches with three awards, Coaches Choice, Most Improved, and Most Outstanding Player awards. Additionally, special awards were given toward the conclusion of the ceremony. 

James Day Scholar Athlete Of The Year Award:
Named after former Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Special Assistant to the President, James "Coach" Day, this award honors one male and one female student-athlete who exudes exceptional performance, leadership, and dedication both on the field of play and in the community. 

Award Winners: Aisha Joy Duncan (Softball) and Torry Jones (Baseball)

Athletic Director's Team First Award:
The Athletic Director's "Team First" Award is presented to one male and one female student-athlete who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, enthusiasm, and perseverance. These individuals have served as inspirations to their teammates, coaches, and the broader Edward Waters University (EWU) athletics community through their unwavering commitment to the team's success over individual accolades.

Award Winners: Zahra Daniel (Women's Basketball) and Richard Hendricks (Men's Volleyball)

6th Man Award:
The 6th Man Award is given to an EWU student for their selfless work towards the success of game day and department operations.
Award Winner: J'Asia Beasley

Golden Tiger Award
The Gold Tiger Award is presented to an individual whose exceptional support and unwavering commitment have made a lasting impact on Tiger Athletics. This honor recognizes a true champion of our program, someone whose generosity, advocacy, and spirit have helped elevate our teams and student-athletes to new heights each season. Through their steadfast dedication, the recipient of the Gold Tiger Award embodies the pride, strength, and unity that define our Tiger family, ensuring our continued growth and success on and off the field.

This year's recipients of the Golden Tiger Awards are:
Charlie Griffin
James Robinson
William Wiggins

Team GPA Award
This award recognizes the team with the highest collective grade point average among all student-athletes. It honors the commitment to academic excellence demonstrated by the players, coaches, and staff of the winning team. Maintaining a strong focus on education while also excelling in their sport is a remarkable achievement, and this award celebrates the well-rounded nature of these exceptional student-athletes.

Award Winner: Women's Tennis (Cumulative GPA: 3.98)

Community Service Award
This special award recognizes an entire team for their outstanding dedication to making a positive difference beyond the playing field. Through collective effort, this team has demonstrated exceptional commitment to community service, volunteering their time, energy, and talents to support local causes and uplift those in need.
Their teamwork and leadership extend far beyond competition, embodying the values of compassion, responsibility, and unity. By working together to serve others, they have not only strengthened their bonds as teammates but also set a powerful example of how athletics can inspire meaningful change in our community.

Community Service Award: EWU Baseball

Student-Athlete of the Year:
The Athlete of the Year award goes to the male and female competitors who have put forth dominant, record-breaking, and game-changing performances over the course of the season. These athletes have demonstrated unparalleled skill, determination, and sportsmanship, inspiring their teammates and captivating audiences. This prestigious honor recognizes the most outstanding athletic accomplishments of the year.

Award Winners: Keivana Durand (Softball) and Samuel Vessat (Men's Basketball/Men's Track & Field)

Coach of the Year:
The Coach of the Year Award recognizes a coach who has made a significant, positive impact on players, teams, and the field hockey community beyond their respective playing surfaces. This award celebrates not only a talented coach and the success that their team had throughout the season, but also their leadership, impact, and positive mentorship on players' personal growth.

Award Winner: Reginald Johnson, II (Baseball)

Team Award Winners:

Football
Coaches Choice Award- Widmyer Garçon
Most Improved Player – Desmon Self
Most Outstanding Player – Stephan French
 
Men's Basketball
Coaches Award- Joshua Goode
Most Improved- : Jaelen Nelson
Most Outstanding – Ja'Kobe Williams
 
Women's Basketball
Coaches Choice Award- Taniah Bowers
Most Improved- Leah Perry
Most Outstanding Player- Mia Morel
 
Men's Volleyball
Coaches Choice Award – Oneil Daley
Most Improved Player – Jackson Mandell
Most Outstanding Player – Richard Hendricks 
 
Women's Volleyball
Coaches Choice Award- Malena Catala
Most Improved Player – Ajiyah Jackson
Most Outstanding Player – Alexis Simpson
 
Baseball
Coaches Choice Award- Dave Mitchum
Most Improved Player- Raul Ramirez  
Most Valuable Player- Torry Jones 
 
Softball
Coaches Choice Award – Keivana Durand
Most Improved Player – Jamiah Holmes
Most Outstanding Player – Kylah Gardner
 
Women's Soccer
Coaches Choice Award: Nadja Dzetelovic 
Most Improved Player: Lara Viehrig
Most Outstanding Player: Rose-Bertude Rosinvil
 
Men's Cross Country
Coaches Choice Award- Kimutai Elvis
Most Improved- Samuel Vessat
Most Outstanding – Ian Kimutai-Ruto
 
Women's Cross Country
Coaches Choice Award- Sammya Brown
Most Improved – De'nayizsa Fance
Most Outstanding – Angela Bitok
 
Men's Outdoor Track & Field
Coaches Choice Award – Jahmier Jackson
Most Improved – Kimutai Elvis
Most Outstanding – Samuel Vessat
 
Women's Outdoor Track & Field
Coaches Choice Award – Briana Morris
Most Improved – Sanya Joseph
Most Outstanding – Abigail Watt
 
Women's Tennis
Coaches Choice Award – Nadja Dzetelovic
Most Improved Player – Giulia Peres
Most Outstanding Player – Aalisha Alexis

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